Rodriguez immerses himself in Michigan tradition

by
Larry Lage | The Associated Press

Friday February 15, 2008, 5:15 AM

Rich Rodriguez's office walls are bare.

Behind his desk, University of Michigan football helmets rest atop wooden shelves just above some pictures of his wife and their two kids, along with playbooks from his years at West Virginia University.

Sun pours through the glass-filled wall facing the south, where earth-moving equipment is paving the way for a 100,000-plus-square-foot football facility.

Not far away, a massive construction project also is under way at Michigan Stadium.

"I guess you could say change is in the air," Rodriguez said Thursday morning at Schembechler Hall.

Rodriguez has gone back to school at Michigan, welcoming the 1969 team to speak to the team last week and more than 200 former players this weekend.

"When you're new, you want to learn as much as you can about the tradition of the program, the university and the community, and I'm trying to do it as quickly as I can," said Rodriguez, who was hired away from West Virginia in December to succeed retiring coach Lloyd Carr. "I've read one book, 'Bo's Lasting Lessons,' by John Bacon, and several other books have been sent to me by fans.

"I'm having fun with it."

Rodriguez was hired to lead college football's winningest program two months ago, and it was a rare day when he and his former employer were not in the news.

"Too much drama," Rodriguez said with a sigh.

Indeed.

A lawsuit regarding a $4 million buyout clause in Rodriguez's contract at West Virginia has contributed to a continuing feud.

The latest development came Monday, when a U.S. District Judge said West Virginia University is essentially an arm of state government and any lawsuit involving it can be heard only in the state court system.

The case was sent back to Monongalia County Circuit Court in Morgantown, where it was filed Dec. 27 after Rodriguez resigned to take the job at Michigan.

The school wants the $4 million because Rodriguez broke his contract early, but he has repeatedly claimed it broke the terms of his contract first by failing to honor a variety of verbal promises, including one to reduce or eliminate the buyout.

Rodriguez is living in an Ann Arbor hotel, hoping his wife, son and daughter will move into a house with him next month.

"My kids are texting me, saying they're ready to move," he said.

Bitter fans back in West Virginia are probably adding to their eagerness to join their father in Michigan.

"Where my kids go to school, it's been pretty good," Rodriguez said. "But outside of school, they see T-shirts and signs with derogatory messages about their dad, and that's not fun for them to see.

"But at the end of the day, you just want the truth to be out there."
Rodriguez acknowledged a $4 million check could make some of the West Virginia-related problems go away, but he said it's not that simple.

"Well, there were some things that were not right about that situation," he said. "I would think everybody on both sides wants to move forward, but when your integrity and character was attacked - particularly like mine has wrongly - it makes more sense to go through this process."

Rodriguez has tried to focus on his future with the Wolverines as best he can, and has asked for help from the past to assist.

About 30 players from the 1969 team, Schembechler's first in Ann Arbor, spoke last Tuesday.

"We wanted to really send the message that we know what they're going through more than any other team, because we were there when a non-Michigan man - Bo Schembechler - came to town," Jim Brandstatter said. "Reggie McKenzie gave an outstanding and fiery talk. Dan Dierdorf was spectacular, too."

Athletic director Bill Martin said it was a necessary gathering for Rodriguez and his program.

"It was important to bridge the gap because it has been 39 years since we've had a transition like this," Martin said. "The day after the guys from '69 spoke to the team,
Rich was right here in my office, and I could tell he was really moved by the whole experience and how connected those guys could be to the current players."

This weekend, 220 former Wolverines from all classes are expected to visit town for meet-and-greet sessions with the new staff and current players.

"I want everyone who played here to know he is welcomed back any time," Rodriguez said. "Hopefully, this will be one of the first steps toward getting that message out."

And if any player wants to chat with Rodriguez in his office, he can help himself to a piece of candy. Jars filled with sweet treats and a box of chocolates are within a foot of his door inside his office.

"That's how I get people to come in here and talk to me," Rodriguez joked.

yes this is great to see.I think when this buyout crap is over and the season gets underway were gonna be pretty happy with coach RR. I could be wrong but I really belive great things are coming. GO BLUE!

In many ways, this years' team will be similar to the 1969 team. I am glad the former players were allowed to speak to the current team. That should keep the Michigan tradition going in the new guys and in the new coaching staff. The torch has been passed. Now, let's go out and upset OSU like that team did, 24-12, although U-M will have to get it done in Columbus this year.

I can see it now... Season opening coin flip: Justin Feagin catches the quarter before it hits the ground, fakes a quadruple reverse to Roundtree, avoids the oncoming referee, and hits a streaking Shaw, who has beaten the back judge, for the first score of the season. Thanks, Coach, for getting us out of the 15th Century.

Someday he'll look back and think this was all worth it. His kids went to school with my kids, nice place but it can get brutal in WV. Loyalty to the state is unbelieveable, even when most graduates ahve to leave because there are no jobs there. I can remember times in Sunnyside (Dr. John's) where the whole freaking place was singing "Almost Heaven" by John Denver. Surreal.

It will pass, RR. I was hoping you would read that book by Bo, too. He went through EXACTLY what you are going through now. And he became the face of Michigan football for the second half of the 20th century. Now go kick some ass!

FYI...RR talked to Sam Webb this morning on the radio, and they mentioned that the Spring game is tentatively scheduled for April 12. Sam asked him if there was a possibility that they may play at Ford Field since the Big House is under construction, but RR said that Ford Field wasn't available that day. RR said they would be finalizing the date and location of Spring practice in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned....(I'd personally like the practice to be here locally.)

Coach Rod reports on ESPN that there are "death threats" to his kids, yet none are reported by him until after the airing of the ESPN promo for behind the lines. Certainly sounds fishy. I've been to Cheat Lake, I thought it was a beautiful area... Cooper's Rock in particular. Getting "grief" there is not nearly the same as being threatened with your life.

I get from reading this board that the good people of West Virginia are rather glad their wayward son is gone. Seems that they would be OK with you going too. How about you stop trying to endear yourself to the maise and blue by telling your fellow Moutaineers to "get a life". Seems they have a lives and for the most part have said nothing untoward on this forum. If anything, they have been warning us and we're too busy bashing Carty and screaming "hillbilly" to listen. As if Coach Rod gets a free "non-hillbilly" pass because is he "our" coach now.

They don't care for Rod. Shocker. They see him as our problem now. And they are right. He is our problem. And if he doesn't take care of the lawsuit soon it will be a much bigger problem than whether he beats OSU. He won't beat OSU this year and perhaps not even next year and he won't win the lawsuit either...

I'll form my opinion of Rod as a good hire and good coach after I see what happens on the field. But until then, he comes to us with dirty hands and your turning on your state to make you look good on a message board doesn't impress me nor cause me to think Rod was the right choice.